How to Plant Pine Trees

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How to Plant Pine Trees

Overview

Pine trees grow quickly and are therefore planted by gardeners and landscapers as privacy hedges, shade trees and even wind barriers. They can be planted any time of the year that you can work the soil, but the University of Nebraska Extension explains that planting in fall months, from August through October, takes advantage of soil temperatures and moisture levels that promote healthy root growth necessary for the first year after planting. Not only are pine trees great additions to any landscape, they can be planted by following only a few simple directions.

Step 1

Select a location for your pine tree. While they are not fussy about light or soil types, they do need good drainage, so you do not want to plant them in a swampy area.

Step 2

Dig a hole for your tree with a shovel. The hole should be deep as the current root ball. Unlike other plants, in which you loosen the soil beneath them, pine tree roots need solid bottom soil to sit on. The width of the hole should be twice as wide as the root ball.

Step 3

Set the root ball of the tree down in the hole. If the bottom has been wrapped in burlap, remove the burlap and gently spread the roots out to the side if they are naturally bent in that direction.

Step 4

Fill the hole in with the soil you removed from it, packing it firmly down around the roots as you do.

Step 5

Thoroughly water the tree, and then pack more dirt on top of the roots. Stomp heavily on the dirt to be sure that it completely fills in the root ball.

Tips and Warnings

Do not remove your pine tree from its current container or burlap until you are ready to put it in the dug planting hole. This will help keep the roots moist and protected.

Things You'll Need

Shovel

Water

References

Minnesota State University Extension: Tree Planting

Donnan: Planting A Tree

Who Can Help

Yardener: Caring For Pine Trees

Keywords:
pine tree planting, planting pine trees, pine tree

About this Author

A freelance writer for over 12 years, Traci Vandermark has written extensively on health and fitness topics. She is a student of health, fitness and nutrition at the International Institute Of Holistic Healing, certified by the American Association of Nutritional Consultants. Her articles have appeared in Catskill Country Magazine, The Lookout Magazine, Capper's, Birds and Blooms and Country Discoveries, to name a few.